REGULATORY CHANGES, BOARD COMPOSITION, AND TIMELY FINANCIAL REPORTING: A STUDY OF NIGERIAN FINANCIAL FIRMS

This study examines the effect of board characteristics board expertise, independence, and size and the moderating effect of regulatory changes on financial reporting timeliness among Nigerian financial firms.  The study adopts an ex-post facto research design, utilizing secondary data from the annual reports of 45 financial companies listed on the Nigeria Exchange Group between 2014 and 2023. Logistic regression analysis reveals that board expertise significantly enhances financial reporting timeliness, particularly under regulatory changes, which further amplify its positive effect. Conversely, larger board sizes are negatively associated with financial reporting timeliness, suggesting coordination inefficiencies. While board independence alone does not significantly influence financial reporting timeliness, its impact becomes substantial in the presence of regulatory changes. The findings underscore the critical role of regulatory frameworks in strengthening governance practices and enhancing compliance with reporting deadlines. Key recommendations include appointing directors with financial expertise, optimizing board size, enforcing stringent regulatory standards, and enhancing the performance of independent directors